Environment Watch: Protect our fragile lakes and rivers

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(NC)-As Canadians, we are overtly proud of our lakes and waterways, recognizing that the abundance of this natural resource is a global privilege.

Did you know, for example: there are an estimated two million lakes in Canada, giving us more lake area than any other country in the world? The Great Lakes alone are the largest system of fresh water on earth, containing roughly 18 percent of the world's fresh surface water.

What can we do to protect this fragile resource? One important step is to use biodegradable cleaning products, like laundry detergents that quickly breakdown in our lakes and rivers. Purex has just launched an innovative breakthrough detergent called Natural Elements. It has a biodegradable formula and is reported to be as effective as their regular products.

"When polled, 88% of Canadians said they would be more likely to buy an environmentally conscious laundry detergent if made by a manufacturer or name they trust," says Ed Zello, spokesperson for the brand. "So that gives our newest Natural Elements line such a great head-start. It is biodegradable and both the bottle and cap are recyclable."

A recent Angus Reid poll reports that eight in 10 Canadians say "it's important that a detergent be biodegradable so it doesn't harm our lakes and water systems". And, 82% of women and 75% of men say: "manufacturers should try to do more for the environment".